Adjustable couch-hammock and frame therefor.



I. E. PALMER.

ADJUSTABLE COUCH HAMMOOK AND FRAME THEREFOR.

APLLIUATHJH FILED AUG 22, 1911. v

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

2 MEETS-SHEET 2.

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accompanying drawing, wherein UNITED STATES PTENT OITFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO .HE I. E. PALMER 00., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CO1 TNECTICUT.

ADJUSTABLE COUCH-HAMMOCK AND FRAME THERE] OR.

Too/ll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Oouch-Hammocks and Frames Therefor, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to adjustable couch hammocks and frames therefor.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the Figure 1 is a planview of one form of frame constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof showing the frame in flat position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the frame with its back rest in angular position with respect thereto; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a couch hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a slightly modified form of my inventions In my Patent No. 972,711, I have disclosed a couch hammock provided with a frame having a back rest angularly positionable with respect thereto. The said frame is therein supported upon transverse strips at the lower edges of the suspension ends. The frame is adjustable transversely of the hammock, so that when the back rest is elevated the frame may be slid more or less transversely of the suspension ends, so

' as to place the frame and hammock structure in equilibrium.

In accordance with my present invention I have provided means whereby the equilibrium or poise of the hammock may be automatically obtained; that is to say, whereby the angular adjustment of the back rest effects in and of itself the lateral shifting of the frame with respect to the suspension ends, and conversely whereby the lateral shifting of the frame may effect the desired adjustment of the back rest.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have, in Figs. 4a and 5, represented suspension ends 1-1 of a couch hammock. Obviously any suitable suspension means may be provided, whether the same consist Specification of Letters Patent.

I Application filed August 22, 1911.

' strand supports.

itself constitutes the The frame is suppori ed by the suspen-.

Patente 1 Nov. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 645,421.

of cloth strips or chairs or other desired Preferably, however, I provide fabric suspenshn ends having at their lower edges transverse strips 2 positioned in hems thereof.

The frame in accordtnce with the preferred embodiment of m 1 invention is composed of side members E3 and end members each composed of pieces 4, 5 rigidly connected respectively t the side members 3 and respectively hing ad together, as indicated at 6. The side member 3 and end vpieces 4""4: constitute tl e back rest of the frame and hammock, it being evident that the hinges 6 may be positioned at any desired point between the side members of the frame and that if desi fed a plurality of hinges may be employed at each end, so that either side of the frame may be elevated to iconstitute a back rest. Moreover, the frame may itself be rigid anc may be provided with a supplemental or other back rest ihinged thereto if desired, or otherwise suit-. ably supported thereon For angular, adjust- ;ment, as will be readily understood. Prefor ;ion of the frame ac: rest.

erably, however, a

sion ends, and in the pre ;ent embodiment of the nvention the end pit see 4, 5 are directly received upon the transv arse strips 2, which may be wooden strips or metallic rods if.

desired or any other s1 itable material. I may connect the transvirse strips and end pieces 4, 5 in any suitabla manner, but pref-- erably I employ screws 2 though if desired,..

I may employ hooks pref zrably permanently secured to the strips 2 aid adapted detach ably to engage the end )ieces 4, 5, so as to permit the ready separa ;ion of the suspension ends 11 from the frame. Any suit- .able number of screws, lOOkS or other ,con-

necting means may beer iployed. p In order to provide a sliding engagement with the frame and the transverse strips 2, I have herein provided .ongitudinal slots 8 in the said transverse strips into which take bolts 9 upon the end )iec'es 5-5 of the frame. These bolts are provided with nuts 1010 and are of the pi oper size to permit the desired sliding movy ment of the frame upon the strips In acct rdance with my invention, Iprovide mean; for automatically eflecting the lateral shift ing of the frame or of the suspension ends or their transverse strips upon or with angular adjustment of the back rest, and conversely, the angular adjustment of the back rest by the transverse shifting of the suspension ends of the frame; that is, When the back rest of the frame is at a proper angle to permit this to be effected. Preferably, I accomplish this result by providing an arm 11 at each end of the frame pivoted to the end pieces 4, at 12 and to the transverse strip at 1.3. These arms may be of any suitable material, but preferably are metallic and are secured in place by screws as indicated. Obviously movement of the back rest portion of the that shown in Fig. 3, or to any other or intermediate position, automatically effects the transverse shifting of the suspension ends with respect to the frame, or vice versa, or a combination of the two movements, and therefore establishes orpreserves the equilibrium or poise of the hammock. Conversely, force applied to the flat portion of the hammock to shift it transversely of the suspension ends will, when the angular position of the back rest is such as to permit this movement, change the angular position of the back rest portion thereof. That is to say, a relative shifting of the frame and of the suspension ends takes place which establishes the equilibrium or poise of the hammock.

The weight of the parts and the friction incident to use preserve the parts in their adjusted position, but if desired I may provide supplemental means to hold the back rest of whatever type employed in any adjusted position. For that purpose, I have in Figs. 2 and 3 shown arms 14 pivoted at 15 to the arms 11 and having notched ends 16 to engage screws or pins 17 upon a convenient portion of the hinged portion of the back rest as indicated. When the back rest has been brought into the desired angular position, the arms 14 are engaged with the screws or pins 17 and thereby the back is locked or positively held in position. Obviously, by the use of interchangeable parts or by adjustments, or otherwise, the arms 14' may be made to hold the back rest in any one of a number of angular positions. Preferably I provide a suitable number of antifriction rolls 18 in the end members of the frame to facilitate the transverse adjust ment of the parts.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a slightly modified form of my Invention, wherein the end' pieces 4, 5 of the frame have pivoted thereto at 19 arms 20 having hooked ends 21 adapt ed to engage angular or bayonet slots 22 in the arms 11, the construction being such that when the back rest is brou ht into angular position, the hooked ends of the arms 20 engage the angular portions, of said slots 22,

thereby positively to lock or hold the frame frame from the position shown in Fig. 2 to into a horizontal position from an angular position, or that the angular position may be varied automatically by relative shifting movement of the suspension ends and the frame.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. A couch hammock comprising in combination flexible suspension means having transverse strips, a frame supported at its ends by said transverse strips, said frame having a longitudinal member thereof angularly adjustable with respect to the remainder thereof, and connecting means between said strips and said frame for transversely adjusting said frame by angular movement of said frame member.

2. A couch hammock comprising in combination flexible suspension means havlng suspension strips, a frame composed of side members and divided, hinged, end members supported by said strips, and connections between said frame and strips for laterally shifting said frame by angular adjustment of one side member of the frame.

3. A couch hammock comprising in combination flexible suspension means. having suspension strips, a frame composed of side members and divided, hinged, end members, supported by said strips, and means for laterally shifting said frame by angular adjustment of a side member of said frame.

4. A couch hammock comprising in com bination flexible suspension means having suspension strips, a frame composed of side members and divided, hinged, end members supported by said strips, and arms connecting the hinged end members of the frame to said transverse strips.

5. A couch hammock comprising in combination suspension means, a frame supported by said suspension means and having a back rest adjustable at an angle with re spect thereto, and means laterally to shift said frame with respect .to said suspension =means upon angular changes in the position of said back rest.

'6. Acouch hammock or the like comprising, n combination, suspension means, a frame supported bysaid suspenslon means and having a back rest adjustable at an angle with relation thereto, and means to shift the relative position of said frame and said suspension means, transversely of the hammock, u on angular changes in the position of said back rest.

7. A couch hammock comprising in combination cloth suspension ends having transverse strips at their lower edges, a

\ skeleton frame supported by said strips,

said frame having a back rest, and means to shift said framelaterally of said suspension ends by angular adjustment of said back rest,

8. A couch hammock or the like having a frame composed of side and end members, transverse strips having suspension means and by which said frame is supported, a plurallty of sliding connections between each end member of the frame and said transverse strips, a back rest for said frame, and means for laterall shifting said frame by manipulation of sa1d back rest.

9. A couch hammock or the like having a frame composed of side anl end members, transverse strips having su :pension means and by which said frame is supported, said frame having a back rest ar gularly adjustable with respect to the fram e, and means to change the angular positio a of the back rest by transverse shifting m )vement of said frame.

10. A couch hammock 01 the like comprising, in combination, suspension means having transverse strips, a f rame supported by said suspension means and having a hinged back rest adjustab] e at an angle with relation thereto, and n embers 11 connected to said back rest am, to said transverse strips.

In testimony whereof, I lave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ISAAC 1i PALMER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gomml: stone: of Patents, Washington, D. G. v 

